Turn 120
Keldar whines in the corner about dead returning to life and Reggie and Vincas
try to calm him. Kay, Arilyn and Jahl stand back waiting to see what will
happen, Kay trying to get a clear shot but unable. Barbaxle advances on the
others but can't get close enough to help so he holds his ground and waits.
Wulfgar moves in and is just about to lunge when Gareth again steps in the way
and begins grappling with Randos. Wulfgar turns at the last moment to avoid
killing Gareth and wrenches his sword arm shoulder badly, dropping his sword,
unable to hold the weight. Gareth grabs the wrists of Randos, who continues to
strangle Bernadino not even slowed by the Knights powerful grip. As Gareth and
Barbaxle move in together to get a blow in, Bernadinos neck snaps, and he
crumples. At the same moment, Randos turns towards Wulfgar dragging Gareth with
him as one does a small child and speaks aloud "Continue your quest my friend
and dont be daunted by the evil along the way. Not even my own." Randos then
decomposes, falling to the floor in a heap of ashes and bits of bone.
Gareth shakes his head in amazement. "Never have I felt such strength; I am
not considered a weak man, but ... he ignored my efforts as though they
existed not. A dark justice, that," the knight mentions with a directional
nod of his head towards Bernadino. Remembering the conversation that took
place after Randos' arrival, the paladin fixes Anselm in his glare and
proceeds to the chapel door, walking very rigidly. "Brother Anselm... an
interesting manner of "faith" you follow here; absolving a torturer,
murderer, and liar who struck down a brother out of jealousy, "Gareth shakes
his head in disgust, "Does not sit well with my constitution or faith.
Wulfgar, pardon me for offence if I would prefer to wait outside the doors;
I will stand watch where the air is easier to breathe."
Arilyn watches in horror as Bernadino's neck is snapped. Unconsciously,
she reaches over and holds Kay's hand, feeling a shiver run up her as
she watches Randos' body decompose before their eyes. She squeezes Kay's
hand tighter as his body falls in a heap. After a moment, Arilyn
realizes that she is tightly gripping Kay's hand and quickly releases
her hand, feeling a warm rush of embarassement flow over her neck and up
to her cheeks.
Cole looks in Horror as the body decays, he grabs his
holy symbol of Balin and quietly mumbles " Penance is
done." He then follows the others outside to get some
air.
A look of shock crosses Jahl's face as the sickening crunch of
Bernadinos's neck collapses and echoes through the room. Jahl takes an
unsteady half-step forward as Randos effortlessly drags the ineffective
warrior of Pikahl around as Randos faces Wulfgar. Watching Randos
decompose Jahl is utterly stunned.
Quietly watching the others, Jahl slips his dirks away and witnesses
several of his companions start to leave.
"What a dreadful game the Gods play. Even an open confession to ones
peers could not stay the hand of a once good and honored man. Does our
faith in life mean nothing once our hearts stop?" Jahl sighs and is
suddenly very weary.
Kedlar tears out of the room at full speed. You find him outside, hunched
in the fetal position inside a bush shaking.
Kay slowly lowers her bow while "Dead Randy" decomposes. "Same here Wolfie,
I just better go outside, to make sure Gareth is okay.", The warrior
promptly heads outside for some fresh air.
Barbaxle expresses his thoughts "Callus must've taken revenge on Randos's killers. That is something
that I have never seen, and never want to see again. He was such a pale
shade of white, I don't think that I will ever be able to get that picture
out of my mind. This is a day for this town, I hope that this story is told
for many years. That is the only way that everyone will know that evil
actions will not be tolerated. After all of us had that same dream and now
this, I hate to see what is going to come up next. We must always be at the
ready, with our minds and our swords."
Vincas gasps for breath, his mind reeling from what he just witnessed. "By
all the gods, the world's gone crazy."
With that being said he hurries off to find Keldar
Gareth kneels beside the teary Keldar and lays a calloused palm upon the
shaking gnome. "It will be okay, Keldar. The gods work in many strange
ways to correct the wrongs upon this earth, but we must trust in their
wisdom and do our best to follow and trust them. Be at peace, little
friend." Taking in the rest of the companions outside, Gareth nods towards
the abbey's exit. "Perhaps we should retire from this place and alloe
Keldar to rest at Wulfgar's home. I have other duties I must perform within
the town, but I would prefer to know everyone is saf- readied for sleeping
arrangements before I perform my other responsibilities." The knight rises,
scooping up the terrified gnome and holding him within the mighty armoured
arms. "Let us leave this place."
Wulfgar watches Randos decompose right in front of him a tear wells in his
eye. As the others say their bit and start to leave he steps forward to the
remains on the floor and kneels "Brother Randos a fair and just man, I
bless you know rest in peace servant of Callus may you sit by her for
eternity. You have carried out her justice as it should have been carried
out, go my friend, go to Callus and serve her well." He makes a gesture
over the remains and stands up, looking up he sees Anslem "As for you
brother, well I cannot forgive you for your act of compassion. To forgive a
man for cold blooded murder of a fellow brother and a great man! There can
be no forgiveness, you should have known that Callus would not tolerate
these actions and would get her justice. You shame your fellow brothers,
Randos, me, my friends here and most of all Callus herself. Perhaps you
should worry about what her actions will be when she has her powers fully
restored." Turning quickly Wulfgar walks from the temple outside to stand
before the statue of Callus. He kneels down and prays.
Turn 121